A tradition at LHS is that during the pep rally on Homecoming, the football team picks someone from the student section whom they consider to be the twelfth man. There are 11 players on the field at a time on a specific team, making it ironic that they add another man to the team, just not realistically.
When selected, they go through the criteria of someone who shows up to almost every game, is supportive, crazy, and loud; someone who truly wants to be there to support the boys and who displays a Lincoln crazies’ spirit. The seniors on the football team come together and vote on who they think best fits this role. Coach Fredenberg, the head football coach, then looks over the vote and adds his suggestion as well. This year, Jude Timat received this position. You receive a red helmet and pads, and the tradition is usually to keep wearing those pads throughout the rest of the season at games. LHS adores this tradition because it has been around for ages. But what about a seventh woman? Why not add to the tradition, making it more relevant?
LHS does not want to completely change the tradition, just add onto it. A lot of Crazies make up the student section, and it would be fair if everyone got the same playing field. In the sport of volleyball, six people can play on one side of the court at a time, allowing there to be a seventh woman picked from the student section. It is the same motive as the twelfth man, just in volleyball. This would attract a larger crowd to volleyball, foster greater support, provide equal benefits, and introduce another fun tradition to Homecoming. Instead of a red helmet and pads, the seventh woman would receive a volleyball helmet that is cut in half and knee pads. This “award” would go to someone who is at every game, supportive, loud, a little crazy, and a die-hard fan of LHS girls volleyball. This allows two main fall sports to bring in bigger, student-based crowds, more support and makes Homecoming more exciting and fair.
